Automatic opener for traveling bags and the like



' 3., KLEMER. AUTOMATIC OPENER FOR TRAVELING BAGS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED NOV: 29, I92I.

Patent d June 20,1922;

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BENJAMIN KLEMER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 MENDEL GOL DRING, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

AUTOMATIC OPENER FOR TRAVELING BAG-S AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1922.

Application filed November 29, 1921. Serial No. 518,668.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN KLEMER, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Automatic Opener for Traveling Bags and the like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention applies more particularly to that class of traveling bags which are opened by pressing downward with the finger or hand a spring controlled plunger positioned in the frame of the bag midway between the ends of the carrying handle of the bag. Often the degree of force required to depress the plunger and unlock the bag is so great that injury to the hand or finger is caused.

The purpose of my invention is to provide an opener for traveling bags and the like by which the bag can be automatically unlocked and allowed to open without necessity of touching the plunger with the hand or finger.

To this end my invention consists in the new and useful construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the upper part of the bag frame, the carrying handle attached thereto and my invention as applied to the same, the central portion of the frame being shown in section showing the plunger in its normal position to lock the bag.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the plunger depressed to allow the bag to open.

Figure 3 shows a plan and edge view of my plunger actuating member.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are detail views of parts.

Like reference letters and numerals indi cate like parts where they occur in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings: A represents the frame of a bag. B represents the lock, and O the lock actuating spring controlled plunger. D represents the carrying handle connected to the upper part of the frame A by links E in the well known manner. The parts so far described are of the well known form and construction.

I connect the opposite ends of the handle D by a member F preferably of flat metal, (Fig. 3). This member maybe formed with an annular open slot at each end arranged and adapted to engage with the loop end of the handle, and secured thereon by pressing the sides of said slot together to close the opening, (Fig. l). Or the ends of said member F may be hook-shaped and said hook ends similarly bent around the handle, (Figs. 5, 6). Said member is disposed parallel with the frame top above the plunger C (Fig. 1) but not in contact with it. I

have shown it as being downwardly bent, but

it may be straight. as the movement of the handle in either direction will, as the links E are oscillated thereby, bring the member F downward and into contact with the plunger thereby depressing it and unlocking the bag so that it will open.

The links E are rockingly mounted on the top of the frame A so that the handle connected to them is free to move in either direction and correspondingly move the member F causing it when moved in one direction to contact with the vertically reciprocating plunger O and depress it to unlock the bag. hen the handle and member F are moved in the opposite direction the latter is released from contact with the spring controlled plunger and allows the latter to resume its normal position.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent: v

1. An automatic opener for traveling bags and the like consisting of a rigid member disposed above and parallel with the top of the bag frame and between and c011- necting the opposite ends of the bag handle and arranged and. adapted on movement of the handle laterally in either direction to unlock the bag and allow it to open.

2. In a traveling bag and the like having a frame, a lock disposed centrally of the frame top and having a vertically reciproeating spring controlled plunger, links rockingly mounted on said frame on either side of said look, a carrying handle attached to said links,- all combined with each other and with a rigid member connected withthe opposite ends of said handle and disposed above and parallel with said frame and arranged and adapted on lateral movement ofthe handle in either direction to be moved end- BENJAMIN KLEMER. 

